Claudia Cassidy Theater Reopens with a Shoegaze Show

It was far from your average shoegaze show on Friday, June 2 as several local bands took the stage at the Chicago Cultural Center. The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events celebrated the reopening of the Claudia Cassidy Theater by hosting the free DCASE Presents: Underground Music Showcase.

A State-of-the-Art Space

Named for the long-time Chicago Tribune performing arts critic, the Claudia Cassidy Theater showed off its newly renovated space. A yearlong, $2 million upgrade treated the theater to new theater seats and technology upgrades. The 200-seat multi-purpose theater now boasts a state-of-the-art movie projector, screen, and speaker system. Other improvements include better stage lighting, upgraded acoustic panels, and a new stage curtain system.

Located on the second floor of the Chicago Cultural Center, the theater hosts free screenings throughout the year.

Underground Music Showcase

While it’s typical to catch a foreign film in the theater, live music is less common. As hordes of Taylor Swift fans flocked to Soldier Field at the other end of the Loop, it was even more special to celebrate the theater’s reopening to the sound of local musicians.

Between acts, attendees gathered under the 40-foot diameter, Tiffany-designed Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) rotunda. Fans mingled with the artists as all enjoyed a complimentary bar and catered hors d’oeuvres.

Lightfoils

Lightfoils opened the evening with an ethereal blend of swirling vocals and thrashing guitars. Veterans of Chicago’s shoegaze scene, the five-piece released their sophomore album Chambers in 2018.

Seashine

St. Louis trio Seashine brought their brand of dream pop to the stage next. Demi Haynes’ shimmering vocals floated through the theater recalling the shoegaze heyday of the early ’90s.

Panda Riot

Local shoegaze staple Panda Riot deliver the upbeat end of the genre with hooky, danceable tracks. Bassist Cory Osborne did double-duty after opening with Lightfoils.

Pink Frost

Chicago alt-rockers Pink Frost put the new soundsystem through its paces as they closed out the evening. Their first new album in five years, Until The Summer Comes, arrived last year. The rollicking set saw the stage erupt in fuzzy guitars, hammering drums, and a psychedelic sensibility.